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James, Hinton

by Anita Bryant James, 1988

24 Apr. 1884–3 Nov. 1948

Hinton James, businessman and congressman, was born in Richmond (now Scotland) County, the son of Alexander Long and Mary Patterson James. He was the great-grandson of Hinton James, the first student at The University of North Carolina. In 1896, when the university observed its centennial, eleven-year-old Hinton attended; fifty years later, at the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary, he delivered an address.

After attending Davidson College, James farmed and engaged in buying and selling produce, particularly watermelons and cantaloupes; he was also a cotton merchant and had banking interests. As a widely known sportsman he hunted, raised prizewinning dogs, and served as state commissioner of game and inland fisheries (1941–45). James was elected as a Democrat to complete the unexpired term of Congressman William C. Hammer from 4 Nov. 1930 to 3 Mar. 1931; he was not a candidate for another term.

He married Anita Bryant of Laurinburg, and they were the parents of five children: Mary Wall, Anita Bryant, Eliza Patterson, Alice Long, and Hinton, Jr. James was buried in Laurinburg.